Queen Elizabeth, A. D. 1558.
[
Note: Original spelling style has not been preserved in this transcription. f is rendered in
the modern s, etc. ie, Majefty and Reverfe are presented as Majesty and Reverse resepectively.]
During the short reigns of King Edward and Queen Mary, some progress had been made towards restoring good Money,
but it was reserved for this excellent Princess to compleat; and, next to the reformation in religion, nothing could be more
glorious or more beneficial to the kingdom, than the reformation of the Money. This, amongst other felicities of her reign,
was mentioned by the Parliament, [Camden's Eliz. Stat. 5 Eliz. c. 11], in their congratulations to her Majesty upon the
happiness of the times, and the fame is justly inserted amongst the encomia upon her tomb at Westminster.
the first indenture for coinage in thie reign, mentioned by Mr. Lownds, [p. 49.] is in the second year; but there is
a commission, [1 Eliz. p. 4. Memb. 14.] dated the thirty-first of December in her first year, (which was presently after
her accession to the crown) to Sir Edmund Peckham, high treasureer of the mint, Thomas Stanley, comptroller,
and others, who were empowered to make Sovereigns at thirty Shillings, twenty-four to the pound; Angels at ten Shillings,
seventy-two to the pound; and Angelets, of the fineness of twenty-three carrats, ten grains, and a half fine gold, and one
grain and a half allay, (as the record has it,) instead of three grains and a half fine, and half a grain allay, which bears
the same proportion, and shew evidently the mistake; and of crown gold, twenty-two carrats fine, Sovereigns, at twenty
Shillings, thirty-three to the pound, Half Sovereigns, Crowns, and Half Crowns; remedy as well for fine, as crown gold two
grains, coinage four Shillings, and of silver eleven ounces fine, and one ounce allay, Shillings, sixty to the pound, Half
Shillings, Groats, Half Groats, and Pence. Remedy, two pennyweights, coinage to the Queen Eighteenpence per pound weight.
In her second year is an indenture [Lownds, p. 49.] with Sir Thomas Stanley, and others, for coining pieces of the
same denomination of gold, with the addition of Rials at fifteen Shillings, all of the old Standard; and of crown gold the
same as before. Silver of the old sterling, viz. eleven ounces two pennyweights fine, and eighteen pennyweights allay,
into Half Shillings, Groats, Quarter Shillings, Half Groats, Three-halfpenny Pieces, Pence, and Farthings.
In these two first years of her reign, there was a great deal of Money coined, whereby the want of good Money being in some
measure supplied, she set about reforming the bad. And, first, having prohibited any person to melt or carry away any Coin
out of the kingdom, the bad money was reduced to the true value, by a proclamation dated the twenty-eighth of September,
1560. By this proclamation [Stow's Annals, 1560.] the Testoon, which King Edward the Sixth had brought down to
Sixpence, was now reduced to Fourpence Halfpenny, being of the best sort; the two other sorts of Testoons, (being
distinguished by several stamps) were reduced, the second sort to Twopence Farthing, and the third to nothing; the old Groat
to Twopence, the Twopence to a penny; or, as another writer [Camden's Eliz. 1688. in 1560, p. 48, 49.] has it, the Coin of
Twopence to Three Halfpence, and the Brazen Penny to an Halfpenny Farthing. The same writer informs us, [Camden's Remains.]
the first marked the base Money, some with a greyhound, others with portcullis's, and others with a lion, harp, rose, or
fleur de lis, and after a time recalled them to the mint. The greyhound and portcullis were probably the stamps
which distinguished the two basest Testoons, viz. the worst with the greyhound, and that of Twopence Halfpenny value
with the portcullis; for there are some in collections with this latter stamp: but as to the other stamps of the lion, rose,
fleur de lis, and harp, they were no other than the several mint-marks of the base Testoons, as appears by the
declaration dated the day after the proclamation, and intitled, A declaration or summary of certain reasons which moved the
Queen to reduce the base Money, appointed to be declared by order of her proclmation in the city of London; the
substance whereof it will not be improper to insert. [From a copy without the draughts, printed in 1696.]
First, the honour and reputation of the singular wealth that this realm was wont to have above all others, was partly in that
it had no coined Moneys but gold and silver, whereas the rest of Christendome have had, and still have, base Monies;
and to recover this, as her Majesty meant, for her part, to be at great charges, so every good English subject ought to
be content, though it was some small loss at the first; also, by continuing base Monies, counterfeits, both at home and abroad,
had made no small quantities, and uddered the same, first at Twelvepence the Testoon, afterwards for Eightpence, though
not worth above Twopence; and for small sums of Money counterfeited, had carried out six times the value in commodities
of the realm; also changing the said base Monies for gold and fine silver Monies of the realm, and transported the same:
so that although there had been coined, both in the latter end of King Edward, and the time of Queen Mary, and
also since the Queen's Majesty's reign, great quantities of gold and silver, yet no part thereof was seen commonly current, some
being carried out, and some perchance hoarded by the wiser sort; as it were to be wished that the whole were.
Also, the prices of all things produced from the earth, though there had been a plentiful increase, immeasurably and daily
rose, and no remedy could be devised to amend the same, but to reduce the said base Monies to their just value; for every
man knew, that a Testoon was not worth a Sixpence, and therefore no man would give that which was, and ever had been
worth Sixpence for a Testoon, but rather would require two Testoons; and so a thing being worth Sixpence, was
bought and sold either for two Testoons or one and a half, which was in reckoning twelve or nine Pence. Whereas
every Testoon being brought to the just value, it must needs follow, that one shall buy that for Fourpence Halfpenny,
which was wont to cost Sixpence, so that what he may lose by the bad Money, he will gain by the next good Money he shall
get.
By this means the exchange shall rise in estimation as formerly, and the foreign commodities be thereby bought for easier
prices; so that every man ought to thank God, that he may live to see the honour of his country thus partly recovered, and
be secured from the privy thief, which is the counterfeiter.
And her Majesty is fully resolved to reform the Monies according to her proclamation, as experience shall try, within a month
or six weeks, within which time necessary things for the mint must be provided; and that the Monies shall be of so just value,
as the Testoon set at Twopence Farthing, her Majesty will allow for every pound of them twenty Shillings and Threepence in
reward, which is rather more than they are worth being melted; so that her Majesty, who, since she came to the crown, never
gained anything by any coinage, nor yet ever coined any manner of base Monies for this realm, will not now determine to
lessen the honour and fame, that she shall, with small loss or gain, recover, by this noble act to benefit her realm and
people.
And as to the burthen of the greatest lost upon the Testoon of Twopence Farthing, those, by good accounts, appeared
not to be above a sixth part, compared to the other base Monies of the same sort of Testoons, coined at the mints of
this realm; and at the coinage of the same base Testoons, now valued at Twopence Farthing, which was done in the time
of the wars heretofore, there were set thereto certain marks, as a lion, a rose, a fleur de lis, a harp, called the
privy marks of such as were the masters of the mint, which also be specified in the proclamation, for the better understanding
whereof, the stamps of every kind of the same base Testoons are set at the end of the declaration: and to ease her
subjects as much as possible, the officers of the mint are to allow for counterfeit Testoons, as much as they contain
in good silver, which in no realm any Prince either hath, or ought to do.
Given under the Queen's Majesty's signet, at her honour of Hampton-Court, the 29th of September,
in the second year of her Majesty's reign, MDLX.
There was a separate mint in the
Tower, on purpose to convert the base Money into sterling, which lasted about a year;
and a computation was given [Stow's Survey of Lond. 1720, Strype's edit. tom. 1. lib. 1, cap. 18, p. 98.] in of the base
Monies received into the mint, from
Michaelmas 1560, to
Michaelmas 1561, with the charges of the workmanship,
as follows:
Total of the mass of base
Monies was pound weight | 631950 | | |
Which was current Money
according to the rates of
their several standards | £ | s. | d. |
| 638113 | 16| 6 | |
Total of the mass of fine
Monies pound weight | 244416 | | |
Which is in Monies current
at sixty Shillings the
pound weight | £ | s. | d. |
| 783248 | 0| 0 | |
| The charges of coinage. |
To the two treasurers of the
mint, Thomas Stanley and
Thomas Fleetwood, for
coinage at Sevenpence
the pound weight. | 7128 | 16| 0 | |
Necessaries, as coals
coining-irons, &c. | 3848 | 2 | 8 |
Fees of officers, with their
diet for one year | 2006 | 5| 7 | |
|
|
Sum total of the charges
aforesaid, amounting to | 12983 | 4| 3 | |
At this time odd pieces were coined, namely, Fourpence Halfpenny Pieces, Twopence Farthing Pieces, and Penny Halfpenny Pieces.
About the same time the French Crown, [Stow, m. 1560.] which was current for six Shillings and Fourpence, was brought
down to six Shillings, by proclamation; and by another the fifteenth of November 1561, all foreign Coins [Stow, p. 647.]
were forbidden to be current in the realm, and the same were called into the mint, except two sorts of gold Crowns, the one
French, the other Flemish; whereupon, for the space of half a year, was weekly brought into the Tower of
London to be coined, eight, ten, twelve, sixteen, twenty, twenty-two thousand pounds of silver plates, and as much,
or more in Pistolets, and other gold of Spanish Coins, and one week in Pistolets, and other Spanish gold
twenty-six thousand pounds.
By this last proclamation diverse small pieces of Money were appointed to be current, as the Sixpence, Fourpence, Threepence,
Twopence, and Penny, Three-halfpence, and Three Farthings; but none of the pieces of Fourpence Halfpenny, and Twopence
Farthing before mentioned. And as there does not appear to have been any such pieces, it is probably a mistake of the
editor, or else the base Testoons were mean thereby, which, by proclamation, had before been made current at those
values.
After this we have the following indentures [Lownds, p. 50, 51.] and commissions, all of the same standard, viz. gold of the
old standard thirty-six pounds in tale, and crown gold thirty-three pounds in tale; the silver of the old sterling three pounds
by tale.
The nineteenth of Elizabeth, by indenture with John Louison, master and worker, viz. Angels at ten Shillings,
Half Angels and Quarter Angels of gold; and of silver, Half Shillings, Threepences, Three-halfpenny pieces, or Three-farthing
pieces.
The twenty-fifth of Elizabeth, by indenture with Richard Martin, for gold as the former, and the pound of silver
into sixty Shillings, or three Pounds by tale, in any of the denominations in the last.
the twenty-sixth of Elizabeth, a comission to him to coin Nobles, forty-eight to the pound, at fifteen Shillings a piece,
or twenty-four Double Nobles at thirty Shillings.
The thirty-fifth of Elizabeth, the same for crown gold, to coin Sovereigns at twenty Shillings, thirty-three to the
pound, or Half Sovereigns or Crowns, a hundred and thirty-two to the pound, or Half Crowns.
But in her forty-third year the Money was made something lighter; for by a comission to the said Richard Martin, the
pound of gold of the old standard, was to make seventy-three Angels, at ten Shillings a-piece, or Half Angels; or Quarter Angels,
making thirty-six Pounds ten Shillings in tale, and the pound weight of twenty-two carrats fine, and two carrays allay, into
thirty-three Sovereigns and a Half, at twenty Shillings, each, or sixty-seven Half Sovereigns, or a hundred and thirty-four
Crowns, or two hundred and sixty-eight Half Crowns, making thirty-three Pounds ten Shillings in tale; and the pound of old standard
silver into three Pounds two Shillings by Tale, namely, into Crowns, Half Crowns, Shillings, Sixpences, Twopences, Pence, and
Halfpence.
The same year Queen Elizabeth is likewise said [Morison's Iten. in Eng. Hist. lib.] to have contracted for the coinage of
pieces of an Angel and a Half, and three Angels; but these, by their value, were no other than Sovereigns and Double
Sovereigns.
In the mean time, some good laws [zd St. 5 Eliz. c. 11. 1 St. 14 Eliz. c. 3.] were made to prevent the currency of bad Money;
it was made treason to clip, wash, round, or file any Coin current in the realm by proclamation; and misprison of treason,
falsely to forge or counterfeit any gold or silver Coin, though not the proper Coin of this realm; or permitted to be current;
but other arts and inventions being devised to evade the law, it was further enacted [St. 18 Eliz. c. 1.] in her eighteenth
year, That by any art to impair, diminish, falsify, scale, or lighten the proper Monies of this realm, or permitted to be
current by proclamation, should be treason. But all was not sufficient to prevent this practice; for two years after, one
John de Loy, [Stow's Annals, anno 1578, p. 684., 1595, p. 769.] a Frenchman, and five English gentlemen,
were arraigned, and executed, for coining of counterfeit Money, besides others in her thirty-seventh year: and in her
forty-second year, a proclamation [Camden's Eliz. Anno 1600.] was made for putting the laws in force against the transportation
of Coin.
Her first and best Sovereign, of thirty Shillings value, had her figure sitting in her regalia upon her throne, and the
portcullis at her feet, like her sister's; ELIZABETH. D. G. ANG. FRA. ET. HIB. REGINA. and the same reverse as
Queen Mary's, but the B. added in MIRAB. The mint-marks a tun, an escallop, &c.
The Rial or Noble, Half the value of the best Sovereign, has her figure with a ruff, (which she first used upon the
Money,) and crowned, standing in a ship, something more modern than her sister's, holding in her hands the sceptre and orb.
Upon the side of the ship is a rose with lions, and fleur de lis, and a flag at the head of the ship, inscribed with an
old English E. the epigraphe in like characters, ELIZ. AB. D. G. ANG. FR. ET. HIB. REGINA.
Reverse, like Queen Mary's Rial, but with the old legend, IHS. AVT. TRANSIENS. PER. MEDIV. ILLORVM. IBAT.
the letter A. the mint-mark.
The Angel, ELIZABETH. D. G. ANG. FR. ET. HI. REGINA. in Roman capitals. Reverse, the arms in the old
fashioned ship, with E. and a rose on the sides of the mast; A. DNO. FACTVM. EST. ISTVD. ET. EST.
MIRABI. A bell the mint-mark. Others of 1578, a cross, or 1592, with a tun. Those of her thirty-fifth year with an
anchor or a cypher, and of her forty-third year with the figures 1, or 2.
The Angelet, or Half Angel, is like the Angel of the same year and Mintage. One of these with MIRA. for
Mirabile, has a dagger the mint-mark.
The Money of crown gold, is first, her Sovereign of twenty Shillings, having her bust with a ruff, and hair dishevelled,
crowned with a high double-arched crown, ELIZABETH. D. G. ANG. FR. ET. HIB. REGINA. Reverse, the arms crowned,
between E. R. legend, SCVTVM. FIDEI. PROTEGET. EAM. a wool pack the mint-mark.
Another Sovereign, with a tun the mint-mark, of which mintage there is the Half Sovereign, the Quarter, and Half Quarter. On
the last of these the names and titles are abbreviated, ELIZAB. D. G. ANG. FR. ET. HIB. REGI.
There are other Sovereigns differing in the form of the crown, the arches being much more obtuse, or flatter than the former.
These have a cross crosslet the mint-mark.
Also a very neat sort like the former, but without the two circles around the legend, ELIZABETH. D. G. ANG. FRA. ET.
HIB. REGINA. Reverse, the arms, motto, and letters as before, having a mullet of six points for the mint-mark. These
were coined by the mill, having graining upon the flat edge; and there are some few Half and Quarter Sovereigns of this sort,
with graining both upon the flat and thick edge of the rim, being undoubtedly the first English Money coined with the
mill, or that had graining upon the trim. A Quarter Sovereign of this sort has a fleur de lis the mint-mark, which is
supposed to be the mark of the year 1567, or 1568.
This invention of the mill, Le Blanc [p. 286.] calls Ballancier, or Fly, from the manner of working it,
and says it was first set up at Paris in 1553, but it seems not to have been perfected until long afterwards; for the
first Money coined by the mill in France, was [Le Blanc, p. 327.] Testoons, and Demy-Testoons, in the
year 1561. The same year we have Sixpences coined by the mill in England the invention being brought hither [The
Answers of the Moniers in the mint to Peter Bondeau (sic), fo. 1653, p. 20, p. 31.] by a Frenchman, who was
encouraged by the Queen and Council, and coined milled Money in the Tower, when the pieces before mentioned were made
with graining upon the thick edge of the rim, as patterns of milled Money. But this Frenchman being detected of
counterfeiting and making milled Money out of the mint, he was hanged and quartered. Perhaps the secret died with him; but
I rather think it did not answer the cost, and therefore was laid aside here, as it had been in France, Henry
the Third, by an edict [Boissard, p. 158.] in September 1585, forbidding the use of the mill, except for Medals and
Counters.
A very fair Sovereign [Antiq, plate IV.] of this milled sort, has her head crowned something smaller than usual,
as upon her Shilling of the same mintage; ELIZABETH. D. G. ANG. FRAN. ET. HIB. REGINA. Reverse, IHS.
AVTEM. TRAN. PER. MEDIV. ILLOR. IBAT. and the arms crowned, between E. R. A rose the mint-mark.
As to the Crowns and Half Crowns of gold, they are probably no other than the Quarter and Half Quarter Sovereigns.
The lighter Coins of her forty-third year, are known from the others by the figures 1, or 2, for
the mint-marks.
The Shilling has the Queen's bust looking to the left, crowned, a rose behind the head, ELIZABETH. D. G. ANG. FRA. Z.
HIB. REGINA. Reverse, POSVI. DEV. ADIVTOREM. MEVEM. An escocheon of the arms, divided by the old cross,
with the date above, 1575, and a fleur de lis the mint-mark.
Another with the same mint-mark, but without the rose or date, REG. for REGINA. and
MEV. for MEVM.
A third ELIZAB. D. G. ANG. FR. ET. HIB. REGI. a key the mint-mark, which, Mr. Thoresby [No 300] says,
shews it was coined in the Archbishop of York's mint; but it is not probably there was any Money coined in the Bishop's
mints after Henry the Eighth, much less Shillings, (when Wolsey had been impeached for coining Groats;) but it
might perhaps be coined in the King's mint there.
ELIZABETH. D. G. ANG. FR. ET. HIB. REGINA. with a martlet the mint-mark, commonly called a Drake, and
the Shilling from thence the Drake Shilling, in memory (as the vulgar have it) of Sir Francis Drake's voyage
round the world; but is indeed no other than the mint-mark of Sir Richard Martin, who was made warden of the mint
[Rymer, tom. 15, p. 785. tom. 16, p. 414. tom. 17, p. 19.] the fourteenth of Elizabeth, and in her twenty-third year
master-worker, in which post he continued till the fifteenth of James the First; and this mark of the martlet he used
upon the Money, not only as allusive to his name, but as being a part of his arms, which was granted to him when he was
warden of the mint.
Another, like the former, has a cross-crosslet the mint-mark, and FRA. for Frank.
The milled Shilling, with graining upon the flat edge is without circles about the legend; ELIZABETH. D. G. ANG. FRA.
ET. HIB. REGINA. a mullet of six points the mint-mark. It is a very neat Coin.
There are Sixpences almost of every year of her reign, from 1561, both of the hammered and milled sort, and several different
stamps of the same year: all of them have a rose behind the Queen's head, crowned, and the same epigraphe and reverse as
the Shillings, with the date above the arms, which, in some measure, ascertains the mint-marks to the respective years, and by
that means determines the years by the mint-marks, to those other Coins which want the dates. The milled Sixpences have
generally a mullet of six points, or a fleur de lis the mint-mark. There is one Sixpence of 1562, weighing two
pennyweights three grains, which is three grains above the full weight, though in general they fall short by about seven
grains; for Lovison, [Rymer, tom. 15, p. 705. Stow's Survey of Lond. by Strype, b. 1, ch. 18, p. 100.] who was
master-worker from the fourteenth, till the twenty-second of Elizabeth, coined the Money Sixpence Farthing under
the standard, and short of weight for divers years, till he was detected by Martin the warden; but he pleaded
necessity for it, to make amends for a bad bargain. And upon a commission of enquiry, though it appeared, that besides
Eighteenpence in the pound weight, which the subject paid to the coinage (whereof the Queen had Tenpence, and the master
Eightpence) there was taken from the Money Sixpence Farthing more. The commissioners were satisfied the work could not be
performed without it, and, even then, was too little to bear all the charges; and therefore, in their report to the Queen, they
proposed to allow him Fifteenpence in the pound weight, and discharge him of what was past; and if he did not accept of that,
to appoint another in his place, and allow him a pension.
Besides the Sixpences mentioned, there is a rose one in Speed, having the Queen's bust crowned, looking to the right,
(contrariwise from the former) the bust being larger than usual, and extending to the rim; ELIZABETH. D. G. AN. F. &
HI. REGINA. Reverse, the arms in a large shield crowned, and divided by a very broad cross; the usual motto Posui,
&c. and the date in the circumscription above the arms, 1575.
Thoresby [No 306] mentions a Sixpence countermarked, with the Belgick lion, very fair upon the Queen's breast,
when she took those provinces under her protection.
There is another stamped with the arms of Zealand, to make it current there.
I have likewise seen a light Sixpence of 1672, stamped on the head-side with a figure like an H, probably to
denote the lightness; but when, and upon what occasion, does not occur.
The Groats, both of the hammered and milled Money, are like the Sixpences of the same mintage, but want the rose behind the
head, and the date above the arms.
The Threepences, like the Sixpences, have both the rose and the date.
The Twopences like the Groats, but the hammered Twopence has two points or dots behind the head. EDG. ROSA. SINE.
SPINA. Reverse, the arms, and CIVITAS. LONDON. a tun the mint-mark, and weigh from fourteen grains and
a half to sixteen. One of these, with a crescent the mint-mark, weighs eighteen grains, which, by the weight, answers to the
pieces of Twopence Farthing, if there were any such. The milled Twopence is like the Threepence, but wants the rose, (as the
Groat) and has a mullet of six points the mint-mark, and weighing sixteen grains.
The Threehalfpenny piece has a rose; without the Queen's head, E. D. G. ROSA. SINE. SPINA. Reverse, the arms,
CIVITAS. EBORACI. Weight twelve grains.
The Penny is like the Twopence, but without the dots, weighing eight grains.
A piece like the Penny weighs six grains, perhaps the Threefarthing piece.
Another piece weighing half a grain more, has a rose behind the Queen's head, and on the reverse, above the arms, 1.
7.
Mr. Thoresby [No 313.] mentions silver Halfpennies, having the rose on both sides, and probably the Farthings had the
same stamp.
The first indenture that mentions Crowns and Half Crowns of silver, is in her forty-third year. These have her Majesty's
bust in her robes crowned, the sceptre in her right hand, and orb in her left, a large ruff and collar of roses about her neck,
and the badge of the rose with pearls pendant thereto, which badge was then, and long afterwards, in like manner worn at the
collars of the officers at arms; ELIZABETH. D. G. ANG. FRA. ET. HIBER. REGINA. Reverse, the arms, cross,
and legend as the Shilling; a figure 1. the mint-mark.
The portcullis, or exportable Money, is peculiar to this reign, and very scarce; it was coined by commission, [Mint-Books.] the
eleventh of January, in her forty-third year, for the use of the East-India Company, and therefore called
Indian Money. The Queen [Violet's Appeal to Caesar, 410. 1660, p. 25, 26] would not admit the company, at her first
granting them to be a corporation, to transport the King of Spain's silver Coin into the East-Indies, though the
merchants pressed it very often, telling her Majesty, that her silver Coin and stamp was not known in the East-Indies.
To which she replied, that for the reasons the merchants alleged, it was her resolution not to grant the King of Spain's,
or any foreign Prince's Coin, to be sent into India, but such pieces as were coined with her effigies on one side, and
the portcullis on the other; that the Indians might know her, wherever her merchants traded, to be as great a Prince
as the King of Spain; and that no more should be sent than she and her council should approve. As this was to supply
the place of Spanish Money, which was best known in the Indies, it was made of the just weight and fineness of
the Spanish Dollar, or piece of eight Rials, and the parts of the Dollar, viz [Mint Books.] in pieces of eight
Testers, four Testers, two Testers, and single Testers; the Tester being equivalent to the Spanish Rial of plate. The
piece of eight Testers, commonly called the Portcullis Crown, weighted seventeen Pennyweights eleven grains, equal to a
Spanish Dollar or piece of eight, and to four Shillings and Sixpence English, and therefore may not improperly
be called the English Dollar. The lesser pieces were in proportion, and all bore the same stamp, having on one side
(instead of her Majesty's head, which seems at first to have been intended) an escocheon of her harms crowned, between
E. R. crown'd; ELIZABETH. D. G. ANG. FR. ET. HIB. REGINA. Reverse, her badge of the portcullis
crowned, POSVI. DEVM. ADIVTOREM. MEVM. An Annulet the mint-mark.
The was observed al Queen Elizabeth's reign, but in the next was bought off; from which time, to 1660, above six millions
were exported, besides private adventures; and afterwards the same practice was continued in a much greater degree; for an
author [State of the Nation in resepct of her Credit, Money, &c. 8vo. Lond. 1726.] computes the exportation to our time, at no
less than a hundred and fifty millions; which, no doubt, was one reason of the scarcity of good Money, that brought such
immense charge upon the nation for re-coinage in King William's time: whereas, had Queen Elizabeth's rule been
observed, it would, in some measure, have prevented that inconvenience, and besides the saving to the the public, have done
honour to the nation, and brought in a considerable revenue to the crown by the coinage.
Before the union of the two kingdoms in King James the First, there was not any brass or copper Money coined for the use
of England, though our neighbours, the French, [Le Blanc, p. 271.] had it in 1575, as most of the neighbouring
kingdoms and states had sometime before. Queen Elizabeth, [Strype's Stow, b. 1. ch. 18, p. 102.] it seems, had it
under consideration before her death, and the question was stated to Martin, warden of the mint, about coining Farthings,
whether to make them of silver, or silver debased, or copper; and his report thereupon was, That if they were of silver of the
standard of the other Coins, the pieces would be only two grains, neither conveniently coined, nor handled for payment. If
they were increased by a base standard to six grains, which was the smallest they conveniently could be, then there would be
eighty in every ounce, and in every pound nine hundred and sixty, and would be current for twenty Shillings; the workmanship
would cost two Shillings and Eightpence the Pound weight: the small quantity of silver would make no shew, and would be clearly
lost, and as easily counterfeited, as if they were only copper; but, if made of copper, they might be faithfully made of one
pennyweight the piece, two hundred and forty in the pound, and be current for five Shillings: These would be apt for use,
and of infinite continuance, and in them there was no precedent of embasing. And from this report, the Queen certainly
intended to coin copper Money for England, as she did for Ireland. Mr. Thoresby [No 325.] describes a
piece in his collection, which undoubtedly was a design for a copper Halfpenny, having her Majesty's cypher under a crown,
circumscribed THE. PLEDGE. OF. Reverse, a rose and crown, A. HALFPENNY. But though it does not
appear her Majesty coined any copper Halfpence, yet by her authority, [Cosuetudo, et lex Mercatoria, by Gerard Malines, fo.
p. 185. 1656. fol. Lond.] Halfpence of copper were made at Bristol, for the use of that opulent city, having on one side
a ship, and on the other C. B. signifying Civitas Bristol. And these went current for small things at
Bristol, and ten miles round; and for want of some such Money the latter end of her reign, every chandler, tapster,
victualler, and others, made tokens of lead and brass for Halfpence.
The following particular state of the coinage, from the twenty-second of August, in the twenty-third of Queen
Elizabeth, to the last of August in her fortieth year, being seventeen years, is inserted from an old mint-book
of the time, which, from several circumstances, appears to have belonged to Sir Richard Martin the mint-master.
| By commission, which endured but only three months, dated the twenty-second of August, the twenty-third year of the Queen. |
| | lbwt. | oz. | dwt. | gr. | £ | s. | d. |
| Angel Money | 984 | 0 | 1 | 12 | | | |
| Silver Money | 26235 | 2 | 0 | 0 | | | |
The
Gold, | For coinage due to the
Queen at three Shillings
the pound weight | 148 | 7 | 0 |
For coinage due to the
master, at four Shillings
and Ninepence the pound
weight | 234 | 17 | 9 |
The
Silver, | For coinage due to the
Queen, at Tenpence Farthing
the pound weight | 1120 | 8 | 6 |
For coinage due to the
master, at fourteen Pence
the pound weight | 1530 | 7 | 8 |
| By indenture which still endureth, dated the thirtieth of January, the twenty-fifth year of the Queen's
reign. |
| | lbwt. | oz. | dwt. | gr. | £ | s. | d. |
| Angel Money | 7106 | 0 | 4 | 6 | | | |
| Silv. Money | 632135 | 11 | 5 | 0 | | | |
The
Gold, | For coinage due to the
Queen at fifteen Pence
the pound weight | 444 | 2 | 6 |
For coinage due to the
master at four Shillings
and Ninepence
the pound weight | 1687 | 13 | 6 |
The
Silver, | For coinage due to the
Queen at Eightpence
the pound weight | 21071 | 4 | 0 |
For coinage due to the
master, at fourteen
Pence the pound
weight | 36874 | 12 | 10 |
| By another indenture for Crown Gold, which still endureth, dated the tenth of June, in the thirty-fifth
year of the Queen. |
| | lbwt. | oz. | dwt. | gr. | | | |
| Crown Gold | 1918 | 6 | 11 | 20 | | | |
| | | | | | £ | s. | d. |
| For coinage due to the
Queen at fifteen Pence
the pound weight | 119 | 18 | 1 |
| For coinage due to the master,
at five Shillings and
Ninepence the pound
weight | 551 | 11 | 4 |
| Charges to be born by the Queen for the whole time. |
| For the officers fees and
diet, at four hundred and
one Pound, sixteen Shillings
and Tenpence per
annum | 6831 | 6 | 2 |
| For one Halfpenny by tale,
granted to the moniers
upon the coinage of every
pound weight of silver,
from the thirtieth of
January, the twenty-fifth
of Elizabeth | 1316 | 18 | 11 |
| For repairing of buildings,
at sixty pounds per annum | 1020 | 0 | 0 |
| Charges to be born by the master in the coinage of the Monies for the whole time. |
| | | | | | £ | s. | d. |
| To the moniers for coinage
of every pound weight of
silver, at Sevenpence Farthing
the pound weight | 20574 | 1 | 10 |
| For waste at melting the
silver, at Threepence the
pound weight | 8229 | 12 | 9 |
| For provision of coals, iron,
tools, wages, diet, and all
other expences about
making the Monies, at
four hundred Pounds per
annum | 6800 | 0 | 0 |
| For waste of gold and melting
at Ninepence the
pound weight | 375 | 11 | 2 |
| For coinage to the moniers,
ditto | 375 | 11 | 2 |
| Sum total of the Queen's
profits | 22904 | 0 | 1 |
| Sum total of the Queen's
charges, is | 9168 | 5 | 1 |
| Rests to the Queen | 13735 | 15 | 0 |
| | | | | | £ | s. | d. |
| Sum total of the master's
profits, is | 40879 | 3 | 1 |
| Sum total of the master's
charges, is | 36354 | 16 | 11 |
| Rests clear to the master | 4524 | 6 | 2 |
| More the master hath gained
by Spanish Money,
weighing four hundred
and thirty-eight thousand
pounds weight, at Sevenpence
the pound weight | 5475 | 0 | 0 |
| The master's whole gains | 9999 | 6 | 2 |
| | | | | lbwt. | oz. | dwt. | gr. |
| The whole weight of
fine and Crown gold
molten in the time
aforesaid, is | 10044 | 3 | 19 | 9 |
| The whole weight of
silver molten | 662324 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| The whole weight of
fine and Crown gold
coined in the time
aforesaid, is | 10013 | 6 | 17 | 14 |
| The whole weight of
silver bullion coined | 658371 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| So remains in the master's
hands yet uncoined
of gold | 30 | 9 | 1 | 19 |
| Ditto of silver not yet
coined | 3953 | 0 | 16 | 3 |
All the silver sterling Money [Lownds, p. 102.] coined in this reign, excluding some base
Irish Monies that were then made,
did amount to four million, six hundred and thirty-two thousand, nine hundred and thirty-two Pounds, three Shillings, and
Twopence three Farthings. The gold, [State of the Nation in respect to her Credit, Debts, and Money, 8vo. Lond. 1726, p. 18.]
one million, five hundred thousand Pounds.
The Irish, [Irish Hist. lib. p. 166.] in the beginning of this reign, are said to have a mint of their own, but it does
not appear they had any Money coined there; on the contrary, there is a commission, [4to. Pars. Pat. primo Eliza.] to Sir
Edmund Peckham, treasurer, and Thomas Stanley, comptroller of the mint in the Tower, and others, to convert
base Money, then current in England, into Harp Shillings and Groats, and to take four thousand Pounds base Monies, to make
eight thousand in Harp Shillings and Harp Groats, three ounces fine, and nine ounces allay; forty such Shillings to the pound
Troy, having the Queen's effigies on the one side, with her usual stile, and the harp crowned on the other.
The base Money was no sooner prohibited in England, but it is said to have been carried over to Ireland in great
quantities; that the Bungalls as they called them, went for Sixpence, and the broad pieces for Twelvepence; but
afterwards the former only for Twopence, and the latter for a Groat; and when they were refused elsewhere, they passed in
Connaught, the former for a Penny, and the latter for Twopence. But this was not of long continuance, for about the
same time [Camden's Eliz. anno 1560.] that the Queen restored good Money in England, she did the like in Ireland,
coining Shillings of the value of Ninepence English, and of equal fineness, or at least as good as her sister's, which were
eleven ounces fine.
The Shillings are fair pieces, having her head crowned like the English; ELIZABETH. D. G. A. F. ET. HIBERNIE.
REG. Reverse, in a shield crowned, three harps with the date on each side, 15 - 61, and the English
motto, POSVI, &C. a harp the mint-mark. Some of these weigh three pennyweights two grains, but others no more than
two pennyweights twelve grains. The Sixpence is like the Shilling, and the Threepence has the same stamp, but with the
addition of a rose behind the head.
In her fortieth year was an indenture [Rymer, vol. 16, p. 414. Pat. 43 Eliz.] with Sir Richard Martin, and Richard
Martin his son, master workers of the Queen's mint in the Tower, for coining five sorts of Monies for Ireland,
viz. Shillings, to be current for Twelvepence Irish, Half Shillings, Quarter Shillings, Pennies, and Halfpennies; and
by force of this indenture certain quantities of the said several kinds of Monies were coined and issued for the payment of
her Majesty's army in that kingdom. And in her forty-third year [Mint Books.] was another indenture, by which were coined
IrishShillings, Sixpences, and Threepences, two ounces eighteen pennyweights fine; the privy marks a cypher, a mullet,
or a martlet; and likewise Irish Pence and Halfpence of copper, one hundred and ninety and a half to the pound.
About the same time was put forth a proclamation, [Camden's Eliz. 1601.] comformable to a loaw enacted in the reign of King
Henry the Seventh, that no man should carry over any English Money into Ireland.
This debasement of the Irish Money, Buckhurst, [Camden's Eliz. 1601.] Lord Treasurer, extorted from the Queen,
out of a necessity, as he alledged, the Irish war drawing yearly out of England above one hundred and sixty
thousand Pounds sterling; but the Queen herself was averse to it, saying, it would much reflect upon her credit, and disoblige
the army. Whether it turned to the advantage of the Queen, or not, says Camden, I do not know; but to the treasurer's
and paymaster's, no doubt it did, whole covetous humour may seem to have first contrived it.
This base Money was afterwards made corrent by proclamation, wherein it is described [Irish Hist. Library, ch. of Money.] to be
stamped on one side with her highness's arms, crowned, and inscription of her usual style, and on the other with the harp
crowned, &c. As also certain pieces of small Money, of Pence, Halfpence, and Farthings, for the use of the poorer sort,
stamped on each side as the other; and the proclamation takes notice, that the silver was three ounces fine, though, as I have
observed above, it was but two ounces eighteen pennyweights, and the goldsmiths valued a Shilling at no more than Twopence
sterling.
The Shillings of this coinage have on one side the arms, ELIZABETH. D. G. ANG. FR. ET. HIBER. REG. Reverse,
the harp crowned, POSVI. DEVM. ADIVTOREM. MEVM.
As this Money was coined in England for the use of Ireland it was returned thither by way of exchange, for which
purpose a new office was erected, [Rymer, tom. 16, p. 414. 1601. pat. 43 Eliz.] called The Office of Exchanger between
England and Ireland, and every person for twenty Shillings Irish delivered in Ireland, was to receive
nineteen Shillings in England, and for twenty Shillings paid in England to receive twenty-one Shillings in
Ireland; and this new standard being made current, [Irish Hist. Library, chap. of Money.] all other Coins were ordered
brought into the treasury, to the great loss of the soldiers, and, at the same time taking away the allowance of one shilling
in the Pound for exchange, bred a general grievance. This likewise brought back all the old base Money that had been formerly
decried; so that, besides the Queen's adulterate Coin, at the close of her reign, they had, First, broad-faced Groats,
coined originally for Fourpence, but now worth Eightpence. Secondly, Cross-keele Groats, stamped with a triple crown,
coined likewise for Fourpence, but of more value now, and were either sent hither by the Popes, or for their honour had this
stamp set upon them. Thirdly, Dominus Groats, of like fineness, coined by such of our Kings who styled themselves
Dominus Hiberniae. Fourthly, Rex Groats, of those who styled themselves Kings of Ireland, so bad,
their intrinsic value was not above Twopence. Fifthly, White Groats, so base, that sometimes nine of them were given for
an English Shillings. They had also Brass Harpers, which were as big as a Shilling, but went for no more than a Penny,
and Farthings of the same metal, called Smulkins.
The Queen's copper Money for Ireland had the arms between E. R. Reverse, the harp crowned, and a date
at bottom, 1601, with the legend on both sides, as the base Shilling, the mint-mark a fleur de lis
within a crescent. This was the first copper Money coined by any of our Princes, and as they were coined in England,
might probably be current here as well as in Ireland.
